An artist's rendering of Vikings Field, which is projected to open in 2016 at an estimated cost of $975 million, of which 51 percent would be borne by taxpayers.

Written by

Jolie Lee
USA Today Network

A new pro sports stadium is good for team owners but not always so good for the local taxpayers.

The Atlanta Braves are the latest team to announce plans for a new stadium funded, in part, by the public. The team will move to a new ballpark in neighboring Cobb County in 2017, and taxpayers will put up $450 million to cover the cost.

New stadiums can spur excitement among fans and provide the potential for long-term economic development, but some recent projects have yielded mixed results - with price tags that sometimes have exceeded what originally was promised. ...